6A - Brian Pahl, Shoreline Alteration

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40 CULLEN LAKES ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 466, Nisswa, MN 56468 August 4, 2007 Planning Commission 4638 County Road 11 Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 Dear Planning Commission members: On behalf of the Cullen Lakes Association (CLA) Board of Directors, I would like to thank the City of Pequot Lakes for promptly issuing a cease and desist order upon notification of and checking into the shoreline alteration on the property of Brian Pahl Construction Company on Lower Cullen Lake. The property owner's alteration to the historic ice ridge far exceeded what was granted in the permit issued by the City. I have submitted photographs to the City showing pre alteration conditions and post alteration conditions taken from both on land and on the water. The previous owners, Stanley and Dorothy Lundberg, were diligent in their efforts to protect the lake from activities on land by leaving the ice ridge intact except for a very small, allowable area through which they could access their modest dock. They had allowed native vegetation to remain, providing a natural aid in helping to prevent shoreline erosion. Even though the new owner received a packet of information from CLA that included the importance of ice ridges and not moving or exposing dirt in the shore impact zone (SIZ) as well as the summer CLA newsletter which contained articles on the importance of shoreline buffers and not using rip rap, they chose to completely alter this shoreline, disregarding what science has shown to be the best ways to protect lake water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. In addition to the ice ridge removal, it appears the property owner has placed fill in the SIZ and also has created a direct flow ramp-like area from land to the lake. If allowed to remain, this will channel nutrient-laden run off into the lake. CLA respectfully asks you to require the property owner to restore this ice ridge to as close to its pre violation condition as possible, given the fact that some of the work is allowed by the DNR Shoreland Standards and your City Ordinance. Staff at Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District can design the necessary restoration plan. A condition of any restoration requirement you might decide to place on the property, the City would be wise to require it to take place before the property is resold, which is the intention of the current property owner. He has made it clear to several CLA board members that the property was purchased as an investment and would be resold as soon as "upgrades"were complete. Thank you for considering our concerns. Sincerely, Ann Beaver CLA president